Zaha was back from injury and raging about a tackle from Huddersfield’s Danish defender Zanka that just earned a booking, leaping to his feet because he wanted more.

Briefly Zaha seemed to lose the plot and was soon in the book for catching Florent Hadergjonaj late, an act of revenge and petulance.

Worried team-mate James McArthur even had to have an intervention to calm him down with a few words.

However the Palace star was steamed up, chatting away to anyone who would listen including the subs as they warmed up.

The home fans booed his every touch as he took on the pantomime villian role.

But then Zaha settled the score in his head in the best way possible with a stunning goal.

He cut in from the left, weaved into space and scorched a shot in at the far post for a stunning 38th minute strike.

Roy Hodgson, manager of Crystal Palace, looks on after Wilfried Zaha scores the only goal of the game. Picture by Graham Crowther

The Independent - Mike Whalley

Wilfried Zaha is a difficult man to ignore. For Crystal Palace, he appears to be an impossible player to replace.

His return from injury brought a superb individual goal that helped Palace end a run of three consecutive defeats, beating Huddersfield 1-0 away from home, yet there was fuel too for those who believe he has a tendency towards theatrics.

If Zaha thought that the resignation of Watford’s mascot this week might make his life easier at Premier League away grounds, he may need to think again.

Gareth Evans, the man who occupied Harry the Hornet’s costume until Thursday, is not the only person to make public his feeling that Zaha is a diver.

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He was joined by around 20,000 Huddersfield fans at the John Smith’s Stadium by responding to a Mathias Jorgensen trip by writhing around like a performance dance student.

The Observer - Paul Doyle

Sometimes, being forewarned is no help whatsoever.

Huddersfield, like the rest of the Premier League, know all about the importance of Wilfried Zaha to Crystal Palace and the danger he poses to opponents, but still they could not stop him from deciding the outcome of this fierce match.

The home team played well, but Palace made off with the points thanks to a wonderful solo goal by their most precious player.